Chandigarh, July 12
Punjab’s hopes of a Central survey of the “devastation” caused by the Hansi-Butana canal as well as stalling of the second phase of the Ghaggar channelisation project have been dashed with the Ministry of Home Affairs failing to react to its appeals.

State Irrigation Minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon today alleged that the Centre seemed to be under pressure from Haryana on the twin issues. While Punjab claims the Hansi-Butana canal is acting as a barrier in the natural flow of the Ghaggar water, it says part channelisation of the Ghaggar following objections by Haryana had marooned a dozen villages in the Moonak belt in Sangrur. The Ghaggar has been channelised across 22 km in the first phase and work on the 17-km long second phase is at a stop following objections filed by Haryana.

The Irrigation Minister claimed that leave alone initiating a survey of the affected areas, the Centre had failed to even react to the flood situation in Punjab. Saying that the situation had partly stabilised in Patiala district, he said areas in the Moonak-Budhlada area were still under water. Sekhon said the Irrigation Department had plugged 14 out of 33 breaches in the Ghaggar with a plan to plug 16 more breaches in next 24 hours.

Meanwhile farmers in the Patiala-Sangrur belt, who have been affected by floods, are keeping their fingers crossed following reports of more rain likely in the next few days. Farmers are keen to replant paddy in their fields but will not be able to do so in case of more rain. The state Agriculture Director, Dr BS Sidhu, said farmers could also opt for maize cultivation for which seed would be made available.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today ordered a survey of loss incurred due to the recent floods. He reviewed the flood situation at a meeting with Chief Secretary SC Agrawal and Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, DS Guru. It was informed at the meeting that over 1,967 km of road network had been damaged or washed away in the floods.

It was informed at the meeting that a total of 814 villages, of which 283 were in Patiala, 200 in Ludhiana, 190 in Fatehgarh Sahib, 58 in Rupnagar, 55 in SAS Nagar and 28 in Sangrur were affected putting three to four lakh people in distress.

Fresh rains in Patiala, Gurdaspur, Fatehgarh Sahib, Hoshiarpur, Ferozepur, Ludhiana and Amritsar was worrying the government as water in the Ghaggar and Bhakra Main Line was flowing above the warning level near RD 460.

The water level in Bhakra was recorded at 1,554 feet; 19 feet above the last-year level whereas inflow in the dam was 40,788 cusecs against 36,986 cusecs last year. The level of Pong dam was 20 feet above the last-year level whereas the inflow was recorded 12,253 cusecs against 6,009 cusecs of last year. 

Patiala, July 12
The situation in Patiala district today saw some improvement, as far as the water level in the flood-hit villages is concerned. According to the district administration authorities, there has been no fresh breach in the Ghaggar and the water level in it as well as the villages is now coming down. Authorities have claimed that work to plug the breaches in the Ghaggar and other rivulets is being carried out on a war footing.

According to evening reports from the administration, the Ghaggar rivulet is at a level of 749.9 ft at Khanauri in Patran subdivision, which is 1.9 ft above the danger level. “But there is nothing to worry because earlier the water level was several feet above the danger level and in the past 24 hours, it has come down. By tomorrow morning, it is expected to further down further,” said Patiala DC Dipinder Singh.

Furthermore, Patiala received 48 mm rainfall in this morning. Officials stated that though normalcy was returning in the district, if it rained overnight in Patiala or even in Chandigarh and Mohali, it may increase the water level in Ghaggar. “But as of now, the situation seems completely under control and our main focus is now on relief measures. We have asked the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to remain stationed in the affected villages for a few more days as a precautionary measure,” added the DC.

Meanwhile, to take stock of the situation, pertaining to the treatment of the animals and the fodder requirements, etc, the Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairy Development Minister, Punjab, Gulzar Singh Ranike, today visited Patiala. Ranike said funds amounting to Rs 12.25 crore had been released for the treatment of animals, cattle feed and green fodder. “The government has decided to give a compensation of Rs 10,000 for the death of one cattle and instructions have already been passed to provide fodder and medicines for the animals that have suffered due to the floods,” he added.

After visiting the flood-affected villages of Devigarh, Dudhansadhan and Nawa Gaon, the minister further said that as per the reports available with him, so far 16 animals had died in the flood-affected areas of Patiala, Ludhiana and Sangrur. “In the 35 worst-affected villages of Patiala, as many as 35 medical teams have been deputed by our department. These teams have examined 21,000 animals in these villages and have also done the necessary vaccination,” he further said.

State PWD Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa, who also visited Patiala today, has said that link and other roads that had damaged due to the floods will be repaired on a priority basis.

Fatehgarh Sahib, July 12
Officials of the PWD (B&R) officials are caught in a piquant situation as farmers have locked horns over the issue of laying pipes to drain out water from agricultural and residential areas of the district.

The department officials have been instructed to drain out stagnant water from the fields and residential areas BY making cuts on the roads across which permanent pipes would be laid.

People whose land is situated upstream ask officials to drain out stagnant water while those living downstream oppose it fearing that the water would enter their fields.

Around 200 spots were earmarked on various roads for making cuts to drain out water by a team of senior PWD (B&R) officials, area SDM and the DSP a few days ago. The team was headed by Fatehgarh Sahib Deputy Commissioner Yashvir Mahajan.

Department officials said the roads would be permanently repaired after laying pipes. Supply of pipes had been received for the purpose and these had already been laid at many places and the road recarpeting would start in the coming few days, they added.

“But farmers were seen quarrelling with each wherever these pipes were laid. They even forced department officials not to lay pipes. Many farmers had even approached senior SAD leaders to stop laying of pipes,” said a senior official.

Some farmers entered into heated arguments with government officials and employees while many others pleaded that their crops might be damaged due to the laying of pipes.

The roads across which pipes had to be laid included those leading to Brahman Majra, Sadhugarh, Randhawa, Kotla Bajwara, Khera, Chunni Majra, Timberpur, Bhagrana, Rampur, Jhampur, Bhaini Kalan, Bhaini Khurd, Hansali Madhopur, Adampur Hussainpur villages.

Nangal, July 12
Taking strict note of National Fertilizers Limited repeatedly polluting the Sutlej waters and causing fish mortality, the district administration Ropar has directed it to release in it fish seed worth Rs 7.2 lakh for the rejuvenation of the water body.

Deputy Commissioner Arunjit Singh Miglani has constituted a committee that would ensure that quality fish seed is stocked into the Sutlej. The NFL has been directed to deposit Rs 7.2 lakh with the committee before July 15.

The committee comprises SDM Lakhmir Singh (chairman), assistant director fisheries Sukhwinder Singh (member secretary), a member from the NFL and an executive engineer from the headwater works, Ropar.

Directions have been issued that transparency should be maintained in the whole process aimed at rejuvenation of aquatic life in the river. Sukhwinder Singh has been directed to ensure that fish seed purchased is of good quality and released in the river in a scientific manner.

He said seed of fresh water fish, including catla, rohu and mirgal (all indigenous carps) would be released in the river.

The directions have come after thousands of fish were found dead in Bela Dhiani- Darauli village stretch on May 9.

Taking an initiative, DC Miglani got the dead fish samples tested at Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Science University, Ludhiana. The reports stated that samples contained 0.186 mg per litre ammonia as against optimum range of less than 0.05 mg per litre. Following this, the administration directed the NFL to stop releasing effluents in the river and now it has given a call for the rejuvenation of the water body.

Sukhwinder Singh said fish seed measuring around 4 inch would be added to the Sutlej waters at the cost of Re 1 per piece. “This would cover water spread in almost 360 hectares of area. Assessment has been done on the basis of norms provided by the National Fishery Development Board, Government of India,” he said.

Bathinda, July 12
The Bathinda unit of the National Fertilizers Ltd. (NFL), has received the “ICWAI national award for excellence in cost management 2009” from the Institute of Cost and Work Accountants of India, in appreciation of its efforts in Cost Management.

Salman Khurshid, union minister of state for corporate affairs, presented the award to Neeru Abrol, director (finance), NFL, at a function at New Delhi. — TNS

Patiala, July 12
State Irrigation Minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon today advised former state CM Capt Amarinder Singh to step out of his Moti Bagh Palace residence and see the plight of flood-hit people.

Ridiculing that notwithstanding the fact that Amarinder represents Patiala city as MLA, Sekhon said: “Instead of taking stock of the situation and devastation caused due to flood fury so far, Amarinder has not come out of his palace.”

“The Congress is responsible for the grim situation in hundreds of villages because the construction of the Hansi-Butana Canal that wreaked havoc in Punjab was a big mistake committed by the Congress,” he said. Sekhon said had the previous Congress government led by Capt Amarinder Singh opposed the construction of the canal, Sangrur and Patiala districts would have not suffered the damage caused by the floods.

“The encirclement of the Ghaggar by the Hansi- Butana Canal has led to the problem,” he claimed, announcing that the SAD-BJP government would take up this matter in the Supreme Court so that the people of the state could get justice. The minister also flayed Leader of Opposition in the state Vidhan Sabha Rajinder Kaur Bhattal for issuing baseless statements. “Instead of indulging in petty politics, Bhattal should visit flood-hit villages,” he said.

Sekhon said in Punjab, the widening and strengthening of embankments of the Ghaggar were made in the first phase of the Ghaggar project, but the Centre had so far not given permission for the second phase of the project, which had to be undertaken in Haryana. 

Jalandhar, July 12
The CPI has blamed the state government for the devastation caused by floods in many parts of the Malwa region. “People have suffered huge losses because of the lack of governance on the part of the state government”, said Dr Joginder Dayal, a member of the national executive of the CPI.

“People are no more on the agenda of the ministers. They have been left to fend for themselves. Earlier, ministers used to inspect all works of their departments. But now they spend most of time either in their constituencies or in bungalows,” he said. He said the government should make it public that how much money was spent on flood-control measures before the onset of the monsoon in the state. How many bundhs were strengthened and how much silt was removed from various choes and rivers.

Dayal said most of choes and riverbeds had been encroached upon by land mafia and there was no one to take action against such elements. He said a commission of senior revenue and police officials should be appointed to supervise removal of all encroachments from natural water bodies”, he said. 

Chandigarh, July 12
The Punjab and Haryana High Court wants the state of Punjab to examine the issue of traffic jams due to the inadequate number of lanes at the toll plazas.Taking up a petition filed in the public interest by advocate Ajay Singh for enforcing the directions earlier issued by the high court for ensuring the safety of commuters, Justice Rajive Bhalla observed: 

“It has been brought to the notice of the court that the toll plazas in the state of Punjab have inadequate number of lanes, thereby causing jams and inconvenience to the public at large.

“It has also been brought to the notice of this court that more often than not half the lanes of a toll plaza are shut.

The authorities are directed to examine this aspect and file an appropriate response”.

The high court has zeroed in on Gurgaon in Haryana and Amritsar in Punjab as benchmark.

The directions issued for the two cities will be made applicable to other cities of the two states after testing their efficacy.

For the purpose of filing its response, Justice Bhalla gave the state time till August 8. Before parting with the order, Justice Bhalla also asked the Amritsar Deputy Commissioner to be present in person on the next date of hearing for the effective implementation of the directions issued by the high court from time to time for ensuring free and safe flow of traffic in the holy city.

Justice Bhalla also made it clear that the court wanted the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act to be complied with in letter and in spirit to ensure road safety, and called for districtwise details.

The development is significant as some of the provisions of the Act have just not been complied with. The non-compliance with the rule prohibiting the parking of vehicles along the highway or on its berms is just one of the instances. The other instances include the carrying of names and designations on the number plates of vehicles.

“The traffic in charge of each district in the states of Punjab and Haryana shall file their affidavits setting out in detail the measures taken by them to comply with the provisions of the Motor Vehicle Act,” Justice Bhalla added.

The court has already asked the Amritsar Municipal Corporation to consider declaring the old city a vehicle-free zone.

Ludhiana, July 12
Twin brothers drowned here today after falling in a drain on the National Highway No. 1 (NH-1), near Dhandari.The victims identified as Arjun and Barkke Lal, both five-year-old, were living with their parents in a shanty located under Dhandari Bridge.

The incident took place at around 6:30 pm today when the duo fell in the open drain. The drainage system has been laid by a road construction company, SOMA, to stop water from accumulating on NH-1.

According to the police, water was accumulated in the drain due to rains and the duo fell in it, while playing in the evening.

The matter came to light when the mother of the duo went searching for her children and spotted them drowned in the drain.

She raised the alarm following which the residents gathered at the spot and fished out the bodies.

The police had reached the spot and started investigation when this report was filed.

The drain is approximately four feet deep and poses a danger to commuters on NH-1. Several requests have been made to SOMA, authorities to cover the open drain, but no action has been taken so far.

Ludhiana, July 12
Rural veterinary officers (contractual) of the state today threatened to launch a non-cooperation stir if their long-pending demand of regularisation of services was not met at the earliest.

The officers stated that their agitation would start with a pen-down strike on July 20 followed by a non-cooperation stir which would hit various activities of the Department of Animal Husbandry. They would also boycott all grassroots-level camps and activities.

President of the Punjab State Veterinary Doctors Association Abdul Majid said in the next phase of the protest, the veterinarians would stop monthly reporting to the department and take to the streets.

Quoting the fifth Pay Commission report, Dr Majid said the services of those working on a contract basis for three years should be regularised. However, the Punjab Government had failed to do so even though the RVOs had completed three years of service in October last year.

Patiala, July 12
One month after The Tribune highlighted that the doctors in rural dispensaries, being run by zila parishads across the state, are facing problems due to sub-standard medicines being supplied to them by the Punjab Health Systems Corporation (PHSC), the corporation has taken a serious note of the issue.

Taking corrective measures in this regard, on the directions of MD, PHSC, Raji P Shrivastava, two doctors posted in rural dispensaries have been included in the medicine purchase committee of the corporation.

Dr Aslam Parvez and Dr JP Narula, president and adviser of the state unit of the Rural Medical Services Association (RMSA), have been inducted in the committee. Dr Aslam and Dr Narula are currently posted in rural dispensaries of Patiala and Sangrur, respectively.

Notably, the medicine purchase committee would now comprise PHSC Director, PHSC Deputy Director (Procurement), Punjab Drug Controller officials, medical experts, two civil surgeons, officials of the Department of Rural Development and Panchayats and two doctors posted in rural dispensaries.

At present, medicines worth Rs 7,500 are given by the PSHC to each of the 1,193 rural dispensaries across the state on monthly basis. The doctors posted in these dispensaries have time and again rued that they get irregular supply of medicines and many a time these were not of very good standard.

Speaking to The Tribune, Dr Aslam said a meeting of the committee was held recently, during which various issues were discussed at length. “The main issues that were deliberated upon included the types, quantity and quality of medicines required in dispensaries. Medicines for hypertension, coronary artery disease, diabetes and pregnancy-induced problems, are just a few to name, which have been added in the new list of medicines,” he said.

Patiala, July 12
The Patiala branch of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) organised a one-day workshop and continuing medical education (CME) programme on “Contraceptive update and safe abortion techniques” to mark World Population Day here today. The workshop was organised under the aegis of the IMA headquarters, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Union Government and the Punjab Medical Council.

President of the Punjab Medical Council Dr Mammohan Singh emphasised on the need for population control but with safer methods. He appealed to private practitioners to come forward to educate public on the latest family-planning methods.

Dr Kiranjot Kaur, a representative of the Punjab Health Department, dwelled on newer incentives for mothers undergoing permanent sterilisation to stop unwanted pregnancies and for the motivators. He said the consent of only the mother was required for permanent sterilisation under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act.

Resource person of the programme Dr Manju Sharma spoke on safe sex and the use of contraceptives to check unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases.

Chairman of the IMA’s Public Relations Committee Dr DS Bhullar said the freely available abortion pills were a major hindrance in implementation of the ongoing movement to check female foeticide in the state. He said the sale of these pills should only be on the prescription of medical practitioners.

President of the IMA, Punjab, Dr RS Parmar said more than 70 per cent heath care in the country was in the hands of private practitioners and public-private partnership must be stressed by the Central Government for the success of the ongoing health and family welfare programmes.

Chandigarh, July 12
The Punjab police is in the dock. Taking suo-motu cognisance of a media report on the alleged “highhandedness” of the Punjab police and the harassment meted out to a whistle-blower for exposing “illegal activities” of a “politically influential company”, Chief Justice Mukul Mudgal has directed: “The matter deserves to be looked at in the PIL jurisdiction of this court.”

Chief Justice Mudgal asserted: “The news report highlights the highhandedness of the Punjab police, which is out to help Jay-Polychem, a politically influential company, which has filed a complaint against a former employee, Samdeep Mohan Varghese, with the Rajpura police, who had dared to make a complaint against the company, disclosing the instances of money laundering, circular trading in diamonds and other financial irregularities committed by the company. “The news report reveals that Varghese had reported the alleged illegal activities of the company in November 2009, to the authorities in India and Singapore and on his complaint the investigations are on with the IT department, DRI and enforcement directorate.

“It is further revealed by the news-item that Samdeep Varghese moved to Singapore fearing arrest. The Punjab police at Rajpura registered a case against him and others for registering a website and putting out defamatory information about the company. A complaint in this regard was made on November 30, 2009, nine days after the domain was booked, but soon after Varghese complained to the authorities….

“The Punjab police is also reported to have picked up, an HIV patient, a friend of Varghese, from Mumbai and brought him to Rajpura and tortured him in this connection….

“It is also reported that Jay Polychem is a company based at Delhi, while the complaint against Varghese has been lodged at Rajpura, claiming that one of the directors of the company came to know about the defamatory material put up on the website by Varghese only at Rajpura.” Before parting, Chief Justice Mudgal directed the listing of the matter as per the roster on July 14.

Patiala, July 12
Taking swift action on the reports of sale of Gobinda variety of paddy seeds at exorbitant rates, the police has arrested a seed dealer identified as Puran Chand of Samana. He is the owner of M/s Ram Gopal Ashok Kumar.

Patiala Deputy Commissioner Dipinder Singh said they had received special instructions from Principal Secretary to Punjab Chief Minister DS Guru to keep an eye on the seed dealers operating from flood-affected areas to ensure that they did not sell seeds at inflated rates.

“Following a tip-off, Chief Agriculture Officer Subhash Chander Khurana was asked to look into the matter. During investigations, it came to light that against the fixed price of Rs 30 per kg, Puran Chand was selling the Gobinda variety of paddy seeds for Rs 110 per kg,” the DC said.

A case has been registered under Section 420 of the IPC and Sections 8 and 9 of the Seed Control Order, 1983, against Puran Chand. The accused has been remanded into judicial custody till July 26.